Tool for holding bushings for valve stems



Sept. 2,, 1930. w. P. DODGE TOOL FOR HOLDING BUSHINGS FOR VALVE STEMS I iled Oct. 28, 1927 Z V l INVENTOR, Wlier 1Q fivd'y ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 2, 1930 WALTER P. DODGE, OF SPRINGFIELD, -MABSACHUSETTS' TOOL FOR HOLDING BUSHINGS FOB VALVE BTEMS Application filed October 28. 1927. Serial No. 229.421.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of tools of the plier type for the purpose of temporarily holding or retaining the sleeve or bushing vmembers while the same are being applied to or put in place on the annular grooved part of a valve stem of an internal combustion englne. An object of the present invention is to provide a reliable tool for temporarily hold- 1 ingthese pieces so that they may be readily put in place on a valve stem without any liability of their dropping out ,of the tool and down into the lowerportion of the engine. At the present time it is the custom to put these small members in place by holding them in the fingers, with the result that they are often, dropped or do not stay in place until the valve spring lifter is released to permit the sleeve on the stem to return to its usual position over the bushing members and retain them in place.

The invention, broadly, comprises a pair of pliers in the inner face or surface of the jaw portion and near the front end of each jaw of which there is formed a substantially semi-circular recess with a shoulder or ledge portion at the bottom of the recess. A projection is provided which extends over the rear edge of the recess and a spring is provided, the free end of which, projects over the recess at or near the other or front, end,

whereby when one of the sleeve or bushing members is inserted in a recess it will be frictionally retained in place by the action of the spring, by forcing the piece against the projection, but permitting the piecesto be released as the spring supporting sleeve on the valve stem is lowered into its normal position by the valve spring lifter.

This invention, it is understood, is not lim ited to a plier construction, but is understood as being adaptable to a tool comprising a single member with a recess therein,

a as will be described.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing in full lines, the pliers in a closed position, and in dotted lines the open position.-

2 is an enlarged detail view of the jaw portions of the pliers showing one of the Jaws partially in section, with the spring secured thereon, and the semi-cylindrical bushing members in place.

Fig. 3 is an. enlarged detail view of a valve stem and valve showing the manner of applying the sleeve or bushing members to a valve stem.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the edges of the m groove pinched onto the spring. r

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one .of the sleeve or bushing pieces removed from the plier tool and valve stem, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views of a modification. Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 and 2-designate the jaw portions of the pliers which are indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 3. 4 is the usual pivot. 5 and 6 are the usual handle portions of the 7 pliers. Each of the jaws 1 and 2 is formed with a curved recess 7 and 8. 9 is an annular supporting shoulder for each of the bush ing members at the bottom of each of the recesses when placed therein. (See Fig. 3.) 7 1O designates a projection or stop on each of the jaws which extends over the recesses 7 and 8. 11 and 12 designate springs that are located in each of the grooves 13 of the jaws. Their outer endsare normally bent inward, as 30 shown in Fig. 2 at 14' in dotted lines, which lie over the recesses 7 and 8. 15 and 16 designate the two semi-circular sleeves'or bushing members which in use are located on the reduced part 17 of the valve stem. The mema5 bers 15 and 16, as shown, are each formed with a'slightly tapered outer surface indicated at 18, in Figs. 3 and 5. The lower edge 19 of the members 15 and 16 rest upon the part 20 of the valve stem. The upper oeedges 21 engage the shoulder 22 of the valve stem.

23 is the usual slidable sleeve which supports the valve actuating spring 24. When the sleeve 23 is in its lowest position it engages the tapered or outer conical surface 18 and looks or retains the members and 16 on the valve stem. In the operation of placing the members 15 and 16 1n place on the part 17 of the valve stem, the sleeve 23 is raised in the usual way with a valve spring lifted. This permits the members 15 and 16 to be readily removed and applied to the valve stem on the portion 17.

In the operation of placing the bushing members 15 and '16 on the valve stem the operatorinserts :ne of these members-in each of the recesses 7 and 8 of the pliers. One edge 15 as shown, will engage each of the projections 10 and the other edge 15 will engage the free ends 14 of the springs 11 and 12, which springs will place a sufficient pressure on the members 15 and 16 to releasably retain them in place in the jaws 1 and 2. The operator now applies these bushing members to the part 17 of the valve stem. The operator now lowers the sleeve 23 downward on to the tapered surfaces 18, which operation will automatically clamp the members 15 and 16 on the valve stem. This operation automaticallyretains the members on the valve stem. The

' jaws of the pliers are now opened and the pliers removed leaving the members 15 and 16 on the valve stem. The free ends 14 of the springs 11 and .12 exert sufficient pressure on the members 15 and 16 to force them against the stops or projections 10, yet permit these members'to'be removed from therecesses 7 and 8, after they are clamped by the sleeve 23. In other words the members 15 and 16 are frictionally retained in the jaws by reason of the pressure exerted by the springs 11 and 12.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the location of the springs 11 and 12 in the grooves 13'which' protect them from coming into contact with the work or any object. In other words, they are in effect concealed or protected. They may be retained in place by pinching the metal of the jaws together around and against the springs as shown in Fig. 4 at 2.

Referring to Fig. 6. 24 designates a member that may be considered a tool without the plier feature. 25 is a recess formed in the end thereof. 26 is a groove which is milled in the edge of the member 24. This groove extends into therecess 25. In this groove is placed a spring 27 having a portion 27 that is located beyond the inner edge '25 of the recess. Its other end is bent at 28 and extends through the opening 29 where it is bent over at 30.- When a curved piece, as 31 shown in Fig. 7 is inserted in the recess'25'it engages the portion 27 of the spring and forces it back into the groove 26. At the same time the piece 31 is pressed against the opposite side 25 of the groove with the result that the iece 31 is frictionally'retained in the recess ut may be removed when the tool 24 is drawn away, and the iece 31 is retained against movement on a va ve stem.

It is obvious that the spring 27 is fully protected when the tool is in use.

From this description it will be seen that I have provided an implement for securely retaining the two members 15 and 16 in lace in the pliers while they are being applie to a valve stem and without any danger of their being displaced or dropped during theoperation. It is obvious from Fig. 2 that the members 15 and 16 are retained in place by friction which is produced by the springs 11 and 12, that forcesthese members in the openings 7 and 8 against the projections 10 yet permitting the same to be released after being clamped by the sleeve 23. 25 designates the usual cam shaft for the cam 26 that engages the lower end of the valve stem 27. It should be observed that the up or and lower surfaces of the jaws 1 and 2 are ree from any obstruc tions, as shown.

What I claim is: 1

1. A plier implement having recesses formed in the inner edges of the jaws, a projection which extends over an edge of each of the recesses, a spring secured to each of the j aws and having an end normally proj ecting over a portion .of each of the recesses, whereby when apart is inserted in the recesses it will be forced by the spring against tlie projection for frictionally retaining it in ace. Y P 2. A plier implement for the purpose de-' scribed, comprising jaw members that are pivotally connected together, each of said members having a recess formed in its inner edge the bottom of each recess-having a stop portion, the outer edgesof the jaw portion eing grooved, a sprlng secured in each of the grooves and having a free end that extends into the recess, and each of the jaw members having a part extending over each of the recesses.

3. A plier construction for frictionally retaining a substantially semi-circular member in the jaw part, which is formed with a curved recess formed in the inner surface of the jaw part, a stop part projecting over one end of the recess, a resilient member projecting over the other end of the recess to force the semi-circular member against the stop part yet permitting its removal.

4. A plier construction for frictionally retaining a member having an outer curved surface, the pliers having a recess, a stop proin its outer side and ends, a sprin secured in CGSS.

. WALTER P. DODGE. 

